Device for gripping and holding pet bottles

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device ( 1 ) for gripping and holding PET bottles in filling systems or the like, having a carrier body ( 3 ) that can be mounted on a star-shaped element ( 2 ) or the like, and spring-loaded gripper arms ( 7 ) that can pivot on said carrier body. The aim of the invention is to allow simple, rapid, and low-cost replacement of the gripper arms. To achieve this, a fixing element ( 11 ) is positioned between the bearing ends ( 13 ) of the gripper arm ( 7 ), wherein the bearing ends ( 13 ) of the gripper arms comprise an edge recess ( 14 ) allowing removal of the gripper arm ( 7 ) past the fixing element ( 11 ) when a gripper arm ( 7 ) is positioned in the extreme opening position.

The invention relates to a device for gripping and holding PET bottlesin filling systems or the like, having a carrier body that can bemounted on a star-shaped element or the like, and spring-loaded gripperarms that can pivot on said carrier body.

In the case of such bottle filling systems, there are a wide range ofsolutions for guiding and holding the bottles on their route through thesystem. In this case, the bottles must be partially turned, in anyevent, however, reliably guided and grasped. DE 297 13 510 U shows sucha gripper, for example, in the case of a rotational conveyor, in whichgripper arms which are pivotably mounted on a carrier plate areprovided, which gripper arms have a compression spring between the otherends thereof which are opposite the gripper jaws, which compressionspring forces these gripper arms into the closing position. In thiscase, the bottles can be pushed in via entry bevels at the front sidesof the gripper arms with compression of the spring and in turn pulledout again.

Such grippers are also known in different designs, in which case it isdesirable to be able to replace these gripper arms as simply and rapidlyas possible be it when wear makes replacement necessary or the grippersare supposed to be adapted to different bottle neck dimensions so thatparticularly rapid and simple retrofitting is desired.

The aim of the present invention is to allow simple, rapid, and low-costreplacement of the gripper arms.

To achieve this aim, a fixing element is positioned between the bearingends of the gripper arms, wherein the bearing ends of the gripper armscomprise an edge recess allowing removal of the gripper arm past thefixing element when a gripper arm is positioned in the extreme openingposition. This configuration enables the creation of a type of rapidclosure which allows a rapid, simple replacement of the gripper arms.

The gripper arms are expediently mounted on the trunnion for rotation ofsaid gripper arms, which trunnion can also be removed from the carrierbody where necessary in the event of such a replacement.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided according to theinvention that the fixing element is movable from a position holding thebearing ends of the gripper arms to a position releasing the bearingends, wherein, for example, in one configuration according to theinvention, it can be provided that such a fixing element is formed as aneccentric disc or the like. It is thus possible to release the pivot orbearing ends of the gripper arms for replacement by a simple rotation ofthe fixing element.

The invention also provides in a further configuration that the gripperarms are equipped at the bearing end thereof which is opposite therespective gripper end with trunnions which can be introduced into thecarrier body and a mounting journal positioned between bearing end andgripper end for a tension spring which acts in the closing direction,which in turn ensures that the tension spring is freely accessible toenable simple replacement.

A further configuration of the invention also serves this purpose, whichconfiguration consists of equipping the mounting journals with ringgrooves for tool-free fitting of the tension spring.

An additional further configuration of the invention also serves thepurpose of rapid replacement of such devices, which configurationconsists of the carrier body having lateral, deformable assemblybrackets composed of an elastic material for clamping bearing on fixingelements on the transport star-shaped element, rinser, filler or thelike.

Finally, it can also be provided according to the invention that thecarrier body in total is formed from an elastic material.

The above-mentioned measures make it possible for rapid, simple andlow-cost replacement of the gripper arms on such machine parts so thatthe machines can be retrofitted easily and rapidly and cost-effectivelyif, for example, a different neck size of bottles is to be acted on.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent on the basis of the following description and with reference tothe drawing. Therein

FIG. 1 shows in a spatial representation a top view of the gripperdevice according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows in a spatial representation the top view from the oppositeside of the gripper device,

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the device,

FIGS. 4 to 6 show in a spatial representation views of the deviceaccording to the invention with different gripper arms,

FIG. 7 shows in a top view the device with the spring removed,

FIG. 8 shows in a spatial representation the device with a lifted outgripper arm,

FIG. 9 shows in a spatial representation a partial view of a star-shapedelement with an installed device according to the invention and

FIG. 10 shows in the same representation as FIG. 9 a star-shaped elementwith a removed device.

The device generally referred to with 1 is positioned in a plurality ona star-shaped element or the like, wherein the star-shaped element inFIGS. 9 and 10 is referred to with 2 and is only reproduced in sectionthere.

Device 1 is formed by a fixing element 3 composed of an elasticmaterial, which fixing element 3 has in a shoulder 4 receiving recesses5 for receiving pivot pins 6 on which a gripper arm referred to with 7 aor 7 b is mounted.

Each arm 7 a, 7 b has a mounting journal 8 a or 8 b which projects tothe outside, wherein each journal is equipped with a groove 9 in orderto receive the ring ends of a tension spring 10 which forces bothgripper arms 7 a, 7 b into the closing position.

As is apparent from the figures, in particular FIGS. 2 and 7, a fixingelement 11 is positioned in carrier body 3, also here in shoulder 4,which fixing element 11 overlaps with a plate-shaped head the endregions or the bearing ends, referred to with 13 in FIG. 7, in ablocking manner. For the lifting out represented in FIG. 8 of a gripperarm without the assistance of tools, it only requires the release ofspring 10 and an upward pivoting of spring arm 7 a or 7 b to be replacedinto an extreme lateral position, as is represented for example in FIGS.7 and 8.

A lifting out is enabled in the embodiment represented in FIGS. 7 and 8in that the bearing end of gripper arms 7 is provided with a rebound ora countersinking 14 which enables the lifting out, upwards in FIG. 8.

The possibility is not shown that fixing element 11 has an eccentricplate-shaped head which is configured such that, in the event ofrotation of fixing element 11, corresponding bearing end 13 of eachpivot arm 7 is released.

For simple, tool-free replacement of entire device 1, carrier body 3 haselastically deformable fixing elements 12 in a flap form which can clampon the star-shaped element between support pins 15, wherein support pins15 have plate-shaped heads or shims 16 which prevent elastic flap 12from falling out.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show gripper arms 7, 7′ and 7″ of various configurationswhich can clearly be replaced with one another by simple steps.

Of course, the described exemplary embodiment of the invention can beamended in a wide range of aspects without departing from the basicconcept. The invention is thus in particular not restricted to aspecific material of the carrier body or a specific form of the gripperarms.

1. A device for gripping and holding PET bottles in filling systems saiddevice comprising: a carrier body configured for being mounted on amounting, spring-loaded gripper arms that can pivot on said carrierbody, said gripper arms having bearing ends, a fixing element positionedbetween the bearing ends, wherein the bearing ends each include an edgerecess allowing removal of the gripper arm past the fixing element whenthe gripper arm is positioned in an extreme opening position.
 2. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element is movable froma position holding the bearing ends of the gripper arms to a positionreleasing the bearing ends of the gripper arms.
 3. The device accordingto claim 1 wherein the fixing element comprises an eccentric disc. 4.The device according to claim 1, wherein the gripper arms each have agripper end opposite the bearing end, and wherein the device furthercomprises, at each gripper arm: a trunnion disposed at the bearing endfor introduction into the carrier body, and a mounting journalpositioned between the bearing end and the gripper end for engaging atension spring, the tension spring acting in a direction urging thegripper arms to close.
 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein themounting journal comprises a ring groove for tool-free fitting of thetension spring.
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the carrierbody comprises lateral, deformable assembly brackets comprising anelastic material for clamping the bearing end on fixing elements on themounting element.
 7. The device according to claim 6, wherein thecarrier body comprises an elastic material.
 8. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the mounting element comprises a star-shaped element.9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting elementcomprises a filler.
 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein themounting element comprises a rinser.
 11. The device according to claim2, wherein the fixing element comprises an eccentric disc.
 12. Thedevice according to claim 2, wherein the gripper arms each have agripper end opposite the bearing end, and wherein the device furthercomprises, at each gripper arm, a trunnion disposed at the bearing endfor introduction into the carrier body, and a mounting journalpositioned between the bearing end and the gripper end for engaging atension spring, the tension spring acting in a direction urging thegripper arms to close.
 13. The device according to claim 3, wherein thegripper arms each have a gripper end opposite the bearing end, andwherein the device further comprises, at each gripper arm, a trunniondisposed at the bearing end for introduction into the carrier body, anda mounting journal positioned between the bearing end and the gripperend for engaging a tension spring, the tension spring acting in adirection urging the gripper arms to close.
 14. The device according toclaim 2, wherein the carrier body comprises lateral, deformable assemblybrackets comprising an elastic material for clamping the bearing end onfixing elements on the mounting element.
 15. The device according toclaim 3, wherein the carrier body comprises lateral, deformable assemblybrackets comprising an elastic material for clamping the bearing end onfixing elements on the mounting element.
 16. The device according toclaim 4, wherein the carrier body comprises lateral, deformable assemblybrackets comprising an elastic material for clamping the bearing end onfixing elements on the mounting element.
 17. The device according toclaim 5, wherein the carrier body comprises lateral, deformable assemblybrackets comprising an elastic material for clamping the bearing end onfixing elements on the mounting element.